The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Throw Out Bearing Information

Does anyone have any information on where I might find a throwout bearing made by BCA, number BCA 697-22? Thank you!

Hy 6cylindersovertexas, is that number stamped on the part? I tried to cross the number at the Napa site, but nothing, so I looked in one of my old BCA catalogs, and I found p/n 1697-C, one of the listed applications is 1955-61 Chevrolet truck 6 cylinder engine, hope that helps.

Thanks 3B - I really appreciate it!

I still need to see if the number can be crossed. I don't have any catalogs of any kind so the help will be appreciated.

I just returned from the local NAPA Store and they can't cross the number. In fact, the only way to even buy a throwout bearing is to buy the "clutch kit" which includes the bearing.

Joe,

Do you have the bearing in hand (so you can measure its dimensions)?

NAPA has a new site and it has not been tested - I cannot select a year/make.

However, Rockauto.com lists 4 different 1957 clutch release bearings and they show various dimensions.

Good luck.

I double checked the BCA Part Number and the number is: 1697-22. I went to the NAPA Auto Parts Store and they can't cross it. In fact, they don't sell throwout bearings unless you buy a "clutch kit" and then the throwout bearing is included.

Joe, as you know I deliver parts for Advance. We have a lady there been doing commercial and other parts for about 10 years. (and her hubby is a good mechanic)
All that to say this.... the number you gave me would not cross reference, SO, she hit the books with me and we could not find that number anywhere.
We looked in books 46-79 and then 79-2000 and found nothing.

Of note is that we found a part number 1697C listed for several models/years for cars and trucks but not like you listed it above....for what its worth the 1697C listed for $43 IF it was the right one.
Not to be outdone she looked up several more and found one she said "may" be it and was less money. I think about $24. She told me she COULD get "those" in one to two days.

Joe, can you send me a picture of the one you have ... OR any additional info that might help. We haven't gave up yet!!!

Gosh, Alvin - Thank You and The Lady at the store for the fine work.
I, too, have been trying to research the matter. I found a BCA throwout bearing on ebaY, which claims it is a direct replacement for the Master Parts Catalog Number 909422, the orginal Part Number. I also found another one on ebaY that is a Delco product that the lister claims is a direct replacement for original Part Number 909422. The first one I acted on because the picture of the bearing looked correct. The second one is located in Ronoake, TX just north of me about 15 miles. I have contacted the lister and I am going to see him tomorrow with my old one in hand to do an eyeball comparison.
One of these two bearings should work and the second, if it works too, will be a back-up. Apparently a back up is now necessary on this particular part with the obvious problems involved in finding one of them. If all this fails, I will have to fall back on your discovery, which I am greatful for.
Thank you for the help and I hope I didn't cause the Lady at your work with too much of a problem.
I'll let you know how tomorrow goes with the Delco product.

Nooo problem Joe. And if they work any numbers you can furnish may lead us to another place and maybe the right part for others.
I'll watch for your report.

Alvin - I'm here to report back that the Delco throwout bearing was not the correct one. I am now on standby for the BCA I bought off of the lister on ebaY. I should have it tomorrow or Friday. It is a BCA 697-C.
I'll let you know.

Joe, in all of this I haven't seen any mention of what engine, trans and clutch combination you are using. Is your engine the original engine or is it a later 216? Is the transmission the original one or have you replaced it with a different unit? I've been to your site and looked at the pictures but that doesn't tell the whole story about the drive line. It was my understanding that the 216 was introduced in 1937 and still used the old style brg., but in ‘38 the 909422 brg (1 7/8") that you mentioned was introduced and remained the standard bearing for all of the six-cylinder light duty clutches from 1938 all the way on up to the last ones. That throwout bearing should be as common as butter. The stock GM 909422 bearing number should have been a ND or ND Hyatt CT-22. New Departure-Hyatt was sold by GM in the 80’s and the ND name disappeared from the bearing scene. There’s information about the ND history on the GM Heritage site.
I had my clutch disc relined last year at a specialty shop in Chicago that does clutch and brake relining only. They had a good supply of brgs. and I bought the one for the '50 there but I could have gotten it cheaper at any one of the vendors. My bearing is a National 614037 which is a division of Federal-Mogul and is also labeled with the Moog logo which is also under the Federal-Mogul umbrella now. The bearing is made in China as are much of them now days.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Hi Denny -
Thanks for your interest! Here is the whole story.
Yes I do run a 261 engine, which makes no difference and I'm running a T-5 transmission, which also doesn't make any difference. The pressure plate is a 10" one used for 38-55 trucks I just bought. There really isn't anything in this setup that should be a problem. What has been the problem is the configuration of the part of the throwout bearing that sits against the clutch pressure plate fingers. The one I have had in there for 20-25 years is about 1/2" wide with a roundness to it from the outside to the inside of the surface that rests against the pressure plate. The roundness is kind of like a cake rises up in a baking pan - round from the outside edge to the inside edge of the circle. I'm sure you know what I mean. (Sorry for talking about cake and making us hungry, at least me!) The clutch fingers ride up on the circular mound to be able to release the clutch plate. The throwout bearings I'm getting from parts stores have smaller circular rising area only about 1/4" wide and then drop into a flat spot. This is from the outside edge inward toward the center of the bearing. The first one came to me buy walking into an independent parts store that I have bought from in the past and it was handed to me after I told them I needed a 38-55 throwout bearing. It was made in China. (That kind of made me unhappy, but what do you do?) The second came in a "clutch kit" I bought (mentioned above)to get a new pressure plate, because you can't buy just the pressure plate, you have to buy "the kit". So, the clutch fingers are working as they are supposte to until they cross the 1/4" rounded mound and go into the flat spot. The fingers snap and the clutch pedal slams to the floor. Upon release the clutch pedal starts upward and then pops, kicking the pedal as the clutch goes into the engaged position.
Needless to say, you can't drive with this condition and I have two throwout bearings that are supposed fit a 38-59 truck, but do not function correctly. So, I am looking for one of the throwout bearings like I have had in the truck for about 20-25 years. All I run into is the incorrect bearing or the stuff about having to buy a clutch kit to get a bearing - which I was told buy the local NAPA store yesterday.
That's the story!

Denny -
I just Googled the bearing number you gave me and it looks correct. That may also be the Alvin Chipmunk found at Advanced Auto. I am going to check it out.
Thank you!
Joe

Denny -
By looking through the information on line about the Part Number you mentioned, I see another Part Number mentioned as being a Y1697C. The BCA Number on the bearing I have is BCA 1697-22. The picture shown on the Advanced Auto site is shows the end of the bearing and it has the National Number on it, 614637 and another number:6-C1697-CA
Somehow, I should be able to put my hands on a bearing pretty quick. I can't, however, find any Advanced Auto Parts close to me, but I can buy online.
Thank you for input and help, Denny!
Joe

Ohhh! Couldn't tell from the pix that it was a 261, looked like it had a tall side cover so I thought it might have been a 216 and of course I couldn't tell you were using a T-5.
Looks like you've become the engineer, it's about all I can do to keep up with the stock setups, so I can't help ya no mo buddy, good luck.
Denny G

I have a Borg warner NOS pasrt # N1716. It is the short brg & has a flat surface that contacts the fingers. This is strange. I have been putting clutches in chevy trucks for over 50 years & have never run into a problem like this. I have a long brg also but i havn't looked at it lately. I can take some photos tomorrow & e mail them if you like. I can't imagine Napa not selling a TO brg. by itself.
George

Thanks for the information George.
I used to have good luck finding parts like this before all of the company buyout and the combining of the lines of merchandise from different makers. Now, it is almost impossible for a guy to look any of this stuff up - even if we still had catalogs, it would be a nightmare.
I'm waiting for one that is to arrive tomorrow (I hope). If I need help, I think you can tell by this thread, I let everybody know and I REALLY appreciate the responses.

George -
What is the difference between the short bearing (1-7/8") and the long bearing (2") besides the 1/8" difference in length? I have seen both lengths during this hunt. Are the applications different or a difference in Models or year built?

Actually the 1 7/8” is the long one Joe. The short one was used with the 261 and V8’s and is 1 9/32”. As far as I know there was never a 2” throw out bearing used with any Stovebolt. Once again, this is pretty straight forward, only two choices to make your selection from if it’s GM Chevrolet parts your talking about.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Joe, my parts girl checked the original number 909422 and it crosses to BCA National #614037 . I looked at the picture and it is what you want. She can get it overnight. Price $30.89 but of coarse I would give you my 20% discount

Let me know if I can help anymore.

There was 2 different TO brgs. used by Chevy from the late 40's to 84. The long one measures just short of 2 in. & the short one is. about 1 1/4. Pretty much what Denny said. There are 2 different diaphram type clutches used. The older style has the fingers near paralell with the plate surface. It uses the long TO brg. The newer style the fingers protrude outward to about the edge of the cover. This is often called a beehive clutch. It uses the short brg. If you have the old 3 or 4 finger clutch its time to get rid of it as the dia. type is much better. It uses a different to brg but that type clutch is very rare on GM except some of the older big trucks. Most replacement clutches are the Beehive type & are fine for the older trucks as long as the coresponding TO brg is used. There is nothing wrong with the older dia. type but the Beehive is better suited for high RPM. If you have the proper brg. & it is hanging up like you said, I wonder if the fingers on the clutch dia. are worn off from a previous TO brg failure. I have a long TO brg. I could send you.

and maybe all that might be some indication of why NAPA prefers to sell complete kits nowadays always nice when you know the parts you install will play nice together .... not to mention that the kits are guaranteed for 12 months and if one piece goes bad you get to renew the whole works at the same time

Bill

After reading this post I went out to my stash of used TO bearings that I keep for reference, I found 4 of the 'long' style, all by different manufacurers.
The first one, BCA has two numbers stamped, one on the small diameter is 1697-C USA, the second number is on the larger diameter that contacts the diaphram is, 1697-1 MADE IN U S A
The second one, New Departure, is stamped CT-22 MADE IN U.S.A.
The third one, Federal, is stamped 1086 MADE IN U S A
The fourth one, NDH, is stamped 22 U S

Although all four appear slightly different, dimensionally they are exactly the same. Just a few more part numbers somebody may try to cross reference.

Everyone -
Thank you so much for your help.
The bearing that I bought on ebaY arrived this afternoon. It is a BCA 1697-C (also marked 1697-1 and it is MADE IN THE USA). It is old (NOS) and in an old box, but it is an exact match to what was in the truck, so I'm going with it. If it fails, I'll keep all of this great info to go back on and re-group.
I think that in the last 15-20 years we have seen so many companies buying out other companies that we have really totally lost the catalog and number systems we once had. In addition, the manufacturing of so many of our products are now in China. These two things together have totally screwed up the numbering system for allot of parts and the confusion has set in. Maybe not for everyone, but for me for sure. So I have learned two things. One, the system is in shambles and two, thank God for all you guys!! Another problem solved!!
Thanks,
Joe